Attaching means



AU@ 3, 1944- KLJ. J; McGowAN ATTACHING MEANS Filed April 8,1942

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l ATTACHING MEANS Filed April 8, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UIN IT ED STAT ESt OFFIC E) 2,355,544@A ATTACHING Keniieth'J'. J.' McGowan, Pittsburgh, Paf, assign-- or j t'ohThe Unionf Switch.. & SignalfCompany;-

Swissvale, Pa.', a corporation' of :Pennsylvaniafv application Aprile; 1942, serialN; 42.8;088"

(Cl.246`+1) f 13 Claims.

My invention relates to attaching means, and it has particular reference to theA provision of novel and improved means `for attaching a signal-l ing device tothe rear of a train. More particu larly, -my invention relates to means for removably securingasignaling device to the rear car` couplery of a train.

4 It has been/proposed heretofore to provide a train detecting and reporting system by attaching to the rear of a train, as'one ofthe rear end marker signals required by.` the; rules, afportable device thatv functions-as -a `source' of control iniiuences. Located at spacedv points alongy the roadway are-receiving means] each cooperable with the traincarried device when itpasses over a receiver, to causea control to be established to denote the passage of such a device, thereby t In order to insure thatfthe magnetic device'wiuj be attachedonlytoth'e rear ca'r of a" train; the' attaching deviceis designed to'be attached to a car coupler and' is so"arrang`ed that" whenattached, theiattachingmeans'renders such car coupler' in'capableof mating with another car coupler, thereby limiting'the use of such a device to therearcar coupler ofa train. Anotherl object of my'invention is', therefore; the provision" of 'attaching' means cooperablew'ith a' car' coupler and effective'whenattached'to acar coupler, `to prevent such coupler/from mating with another'. coupler.

Additionally," sincethe portable device must-be handled by a member of the" train crew andmoved irom'onec'ar coupler toanother, there is a possibility thatwhile the'crew'meniber is handling the device.- the'wat'ch of such crew member might be aiected by the magnetic ldevice. and thus caused to become-inaccurate. To avoid this possibility,v the magneticdevice comprises two magnets arranged in additive relation when attached to av trainand operative to aneutralizing relation when the device is to be handled; A further object of my invention is, therefore, the provision ofl novel and improved means for attachingfapair of magnets 4toa car coupler in such manner that the magnets must be in additive relation when attached to a coupler,and must be -ina neutralizingy relation beforethe device may be detachedfrom a coupler for handling.

Anadditional objectk of my invention is-thev provision of novel and improved attachingmeansl cooperable with-a railway car.` coupler.

The above-mentioned and other important objects andcharacteristic features which'will become apparent from` the following description,.

are attainedin accordance?I with -my invention by providing means for attaching a pairofv magnetsto alcar coupler and includingan operatinglever or member having a first-or' handling position in`=y which the,L two magnets` are positionedfin apredetermined relationsuch that they do notcreate a 4strong -magnetic .iield external ,tof the magnetic.'

structure, and :which `leverv is operable to `another or, attached position :wherein the .attac-hing` means ture of themag-'mts` I shall describe one form of apparatus embodyiing my invention`; and .shall then pointA out the novel -f features thereof in claims:

I'nthe' accompan'yingdrawings, Fig. 1--is a top plan-view representing arailway carS coupler to which-an attaching device embodying my inven tion maybe attached. Fig.f2is a top plarrview` showing anattaching device` embodying my'inventionA and the relation' of' suchf'a device to "a car coupler. Fig. 3` is'a' side viewof the'attaching device'shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa sectional view takenv on the lines IV-IV of Fig. 3. Fig; 5vv is" another sectionalfview showing onan enlarged scalleafportion'of thedevice represented in'FigL 4i Figs; '6 and 7 are sideand top views, respectively, of' the two magnets represented inFi'gs. 4` and 5'. Fig.` 8 is 'a' sectionalV view taken ori the line vIII-Vlirof Fig; 4; Fig. 9 isanother sectonalf viewtakerronthe line IX-IX of Fig. 8".' Fig. 10l is ahoele'vationa'l'view illustrating the attaching.'

c leviceattacliedto the rear car coupler of 'atraiiL each of the several views, similar referencecharacters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts.

In accordance with the invention, anfattach-ing.

devicefis providedvforl susptndingi a signaling device vertically from a railway carcoupler shownin Fig. 1 and comprising a knuckle member I rotatably mounted on a pin 2 journaled in a coupler shank member 3 adapted to be secured in the usual manner to a railway car. The signaling device supported vertically from the car coupler preferably comprises a source of control influences for a rear end train reporting system of the type disclosed in the aforesaid Baughman application, Serial No. 396,745, and such a source preferably comprises a pair of magnets disposed in inductive relation to the roadway with the poles of the magnets aligned longitudinally with the track rails.

The attaching device, represented in Figs, 2, 3 and 4, comprises attaching means cooperating with the car coupler, supporting means attached to the attaching means, a magnet assembly secured to the supporting means and including a pair of magnets, and operating means for conditioning the attaching means for cooperation with the car coupler and for establishing different relative relations of the two magnets of the magnet assembly.

The attaching means which cooperates with thecar coupler comprises a first channel member 4|) provided in its sidewalls with aligned openings journaling a pin 4I on which a lever 42 is pivoted intermediate its ends. One end of lever 42 is connected as by means of a pin 44 to a second'channel member 45 arranged to operate within the sidewalls of the rst channel member. The two channel members have their open faces confronting, and disposed between the closed faces of the channels are compression springs 46 and 41, disposed in pairs on either side of pin 44. The springs 4B are held in position by means of spring blocks 48 secured as by rivets 49 to channel members 40 and 45, respectively.

The upper or right-hand end, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, of member 40 has secured thereto, as by welding, a knuckle engaging member 5| having side members shaped to engage knuckle I and provided with a lip for engaging the top face of the knuckle. Another knuckle engaging member 53 welded to channel 40 has side members shaped to engage the knuckle, while channel member 45 has secured thereto shank engaging members 54 shaped or bent to engage shank 3 at a plurality of spaced points.

Attached as by welding to the lower or lefthand end of member 40, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, is a tubular supporting member 2|) provided intermediate its ends with a bearing member 22 secured as by screws 2| to member 20 and provided with a collar. J ournaled on member 22 intermediate its collar and a plate member 25 welded to tubular member and channel member 40, is a handle member 23 provided with a cam 24 which engages the other or free end of lever 42. Cam 24, as can best be seen in Fig. 2, has a cammed surface which varies from a low to a high portion and which is effective to operate the channel members from an open to a closed position, respectively, as will be made clear presently. Cam 24 also is preferably provided with detent openings 63 and 65.(see Figs.4 and 2, respectively) which cooperate in a manner to be made clear presently, with spring detent means shown in Fig. 4 and comprising aball BIJ biased into engagementwith the side surface of cam 24 by means of a spring 6| enclosed in a housing 62 secured to member 40.

'I he lower or left-hand end, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, of tubularY member 20 is threaded into a non-magnetizable housing II while the other or upper end of member 20 is enclosed by an end plate 26 welded to member 20 and provided with an opening in which an operating shaft 21 is journaled. Secured to the upper end of shaft 21 that projects through plate 26 is a crank arm 30 operatively connected with cam 24 by means of stops or lugs 3| and 32 (see Fig. 2) secured to cam 24 and disposed on either side of the crank arm for engagement therewith. One or the other of the two stops 3| and 32 engages crank arm 30 to rotate shaft 21 when cam 24 is rotated in a manner explained hereinafter.

A sleeve. member 34 journaled in housing I I (see Fig. 4) is secured by screws 33 to the other or lower end of shaft `21, and the shaft is provided with suitable biasing means comprising a torsion spring 31 disposed around shaft 21 and secured at one end to the shaft and at the other end by a screw 38 to tubular member 20. These biasing means function to bias shaft 21 in a given direction, wherein crank arm 30 is held in engagement with stop 32, for a purpose to be made clear presently, The sleeve member 34 terminates in a tongue 35 adapted to cooperate with the magnet assembly for establishing different relative relations of the magnets of the assembly, which assembly is shown in detail in Figs. 5-9, inclusive, and comprises a pair of bar magnets 5 and 6 supported in housing I I. iAs can best be seen in Fig. 5, the magnets are disposed in the housing with a spring I3 interposed between the inner face of the housing and the upper face of the upper or right-hand magnet 6 (as viewed in Fig. 5), which magnet rests upon and is supported by the lower magnet 5 which in turn is supported by a coverplate I4 attached by bolts I5 to and enclosing the lower or left-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 5, of housing I I. Lower magnet 5 `is provided with two elongated pole pieces 1, one for each end or pole of the magnet. These pole pieces are provided adjacent to magnet 5 with upturned legs 1a having openings which receive bolts I8 disposed in semicircular shaped grooves formed in lugs 5a molded on magnet 5 (see Fig. 9). Nuts I9 are provided on the ends of bolts I8 and when drawn up, secure the pole pieces to magnet 5. The outer ends of the pole pieces are supported by braces I6 secured by bolts I1 to housing I I and to the outer ends of pole pieces 1, respectively.

For cooperation with tongue 35 secured to shaft 21, the upper magnet 6 is provided on its upper face with an insert 4 provided with a slot 8 into Which tongue 35 ts. Magnet 6 also is provided on its upper face with a projection 9 which cooperates with a fixed stop I0 formed in housing I I, and with an adjustable stop comprising a bolt I2 threaded through an opening in the housing.

`In accordancce with an object of the invention, the attaching. device is arranged to establish different relative relations of the two magnets 5 and 6, whereby when the magnets are attached to a car coupler a relatively strong magnetic field is obtained but when the device is detached from the coupler for the purpose of handling or moving the magnets, a relatively weak magnetic field is provided. The magnets 5 and 6 produce a relatively strong magnetic eld when the magnets are in the condition represented in Figs. 4 and 5. In this condition of the magnets, the north poles (designated by the reference characters N) of the two magnets are adjacent to each other while the south poles (designated by the reference characters S) are likewise adjacent. The uxes of the magnets are, therefore, in agreement and the magnets cooperate in creating. a relatively strong magnetic field. Should, however, the upper magnet 6 be rotated as indicated in Fig. 7 through an angle of approximately 180, then the unlike poles of the two magnets will be adjacent to each other, asM represented in Fig. 6, and the magnets -will then be in a neutralizing relation Whereinarelatively weak resultant magnetic field is produced.

To handle the device and prepare it for attachment to the car coupler, a convenient grip member 61 welded to channel member 40 may be grasped and used to assist in rotating handle 23 in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2, from its full-line position represented in the drawings to the Vdotted line position X. This operation of lever 23 brings the high portion of cam-24 into engagement with lever 42 to rotate that lever about its pivot 4 I, whereupon channel members 40 and 45 are operated against the action of springs 46 and 41, to a closed position wherein the channel members are in their closest proximity. In this position'of carn 24, detent opening 65 is disposed beneath and occupied by ball 60 of the spring detent means, thereby locking the calm and handle 23 against accidental movement, If desired, however, the detent locking means may be replaced by a fixed stop secured to channel member 40 and engaging a projection on cam 24 to limit the stroke of lever 23. The rotation of handle 23 to its X position also results in the' rotation of shaft 21, and the upper magnet 6 operatively connected therewith, through an angle of approximately 180 to the position wherein projection 9 of magnet 8 engages adjustable stop I2. Under the assumed conditions, the magnets and 6 are positioned as indicated in Fig. 6 and vcreate a relatively weak resultant magnetic field so that the device and magnets may be handled by a train crew member without danger of magnetizing the watch of such crew member. I shall, therefore, refer to the device as being in the handling condition when lever 23 is rotated to its dotted line X position indicated in Fig. 2. Y When the device is in its handling position, it may be attached to a locked car coupler by inserting the channel members 40 and 45 between knuckle portion l and shank portion 3 of the coupler, with the lip of Aknuckle engaging member 5| arranged to engage the upper face of the knuckle member, and with the side portions of member 5I disposed as shown in Fig. 2 to engage the relatively flat sides of knuckle l, Handle 23 may then be operated from its dotted position X to its full-line or attached position represented in Fig. 2, in which position the low portion `of cam 24 engages lever 42 and the springs 46 and 41 are enabled to separate the channel members 4|) and 45. The parts are preferably proportioned so that when lever 23 is rotated to its attached position, represented in full lines in Fig. 2 and wherein detent opening 63 is engaged by ball 60 to lock the handle against accidental movement, the channel members do not reach their full open position, that is, theposition wherein lever 42 bears against the low portion of cam 24. The channel members are, therefore, under spring compression and their associated knuckle and shank engaging members are forced by spring action rmly into engagement with the component parts of the car coupler to position the device rmly in the coupler. The device, as pointed out hereinbefore, is suspended vertically from the coupler with the magnets 5 and 6 projecting downwardly toward the trackway, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. In this ligure, the rails 10 supported on a tie 1| in turn support the wheels 12 of a railway car 13 shown as comprising a caboose. Inserted in the free or disengaged coupler of the caboose between Etheknuckle land shank 3 portions of the coupler are thel coupler engaging elements of applicants device, and with the device attached to the coupler as shown, the magnets are positioned in a predetermined relationship with the trackway so that the magnets, pole pieces 1 and associated housing will clear with a predetermined clearance a line drawn tangent to the tops of rails 10. The parts are adjusted so that the elongated pole pieces 1 are in alignment with the axis of the car to which they are attached, or in other words the pole pieces are in parallel relation to the two track rails of the roadway. The suspended weight of the device is supported from the lip of member `5I (see Figs. 3 and 4) which lip bears against the top of knuckle l.

I n the attached position of the device, represented in Fig. 2, the magnets 5 and 6 are in the additive relation due to the rotation of magnet 6 ,to the position represented in Fig. 5. The biasing spring 31 of shaft 21 is effective to operate shaft V2 1 and its associated handle 23 and magnet 6, to thepositions wherein projection 9 engages stop Il) ,of rhousing II, and detent opening 63 of cam 24 isengaged by ball 60, even though channel members-40 and 45 Vmight be prevented from reaching their full open position due to the engagement of the knuckle and shank Vmembers 5I and 54 with the tongue and shank portions l and 3 of the coupler, respectively, The biasing of shaft 21 there- '.,fore insures that magnets 5 and 6 will be in their .and32 secured to cam '24. This lost motion connection affords a means which enables the angular displacement of magnet 6 to be varied while permitting the operating lever 23 .to be swung always through its full stroke. 4'It is, of course, obvious that an alternative arrangement may be provided, if desired, by securing. crank arm 30 to Y,cam 24 and by connecting shaft 21 to magnet 6 by means, such as by an arm on the shaft and adjustable stops on the magnet, that permits lost motion in such parts.

It is, of course, obvious that when an attaching -device embodying my invention is attached to a Ycar coupler, the coupler is then rendered incapable of mating. with another coupler. Thus, once the magnets are attached to a coupler, the device.functions to insure that the coupler will be the last car coupler of a train.

From theforegoing, it isreadily apparent that I have provided novel and improved means for vremovably securing a device to a car coupler in such'manner that a predetermined relation of elements is establishedv when the device is attached `to a coupler, and another predetermined relationship must be established in order to remove the device for handling. More particularly, it is to be noted that I have provided means for attaching a pair of magnets to a car coupler in such manner that when the magnets are attached they must be in additive relation, and such magnets must be in a neutralizing relation in order to be detached from thecar coupler.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of an attaching means embodying .my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein ymeans for removably securing both of said magnets to said railway car coupler, said means preventing said car coupler from mating with any other car coupler and including means operative for establishing a predetermined magnetic relationship of the magnets when attached to a car coupler and for establishing another predetermined magnetic relationship prior to disconnecting said magnets from said carlcoupler.

- 2. In combination with a railway car coupler in its locked condition, a pair of magnets, and means for removably securing -said magnets to said railway car coupler, said means preventing said coupler from mating with any other car coupler and including means operative to establish an additive magneticrelationship of said magnets when attached to a car coupler and effective to establish a neutralizing magnetic relationship of said magnets in disconnecting. said magnets from said coupler.

3. Attaching means for removably securing a `pair of magnets to a railway car coupler in its locked condition, comprising in combination, means for supporting a pair of magnets, and means for attaching saidy supporting means to a car coupler, said attaching means including -means for operating said magnets to an additive relation when attached to said coupler and for` operating said magnets to a neutralizing relation prior to detaching said magnets from said coupler.

4. Means vfor attaching a signaling device to a railway car coupler in its locked condition and for preventing said coupler from coupling with another car coupler, comprising in combination, a supporting member for supporting a signaling device, and means operatively connected with said member for removably securing said member to said coupler including a pair of members spring biased apart and operable against such spring bias to a closed position wherein said members are insertable in a car coupler and to an open position wherein said spring bias is effective to maintain said members firmly attached to said coupler.

5. A portable device for attaching impulsing means to a railway cary said device cooperating and comprising a pair of coupler engaging elements compressible to a closed position for insertion into a coupler and biased to an expanded position in engagement with said coupler, operating means for compressing said coupler engaging elements, Vand means operatively connected with -said operating means for varying the relative positions of said two magnets for at times establishing an additive and at other times a neutralizing flux relation.

7. In combination, a pair of coupler engaging elements, means for biasing said elements to an expanded position into engagement with the parts of a railway car coupler in its locked condition,

, operating means for compressing said coupler engaging elements to a closed position for insertion into .a car coupler, a pair of magnets supported from said coupler engaging elements, and means operatively connecting said operating means to said magnets for normally establishing an additive flux relation and operative to establish a neutralizing ux relation when said coupler engaging elements are in their closed positions.

8. In combination, a nonmagnetizable housing, two bar type permanent magnets disposed in said housing, a supporting member secured to said housing and provided with attaching means having one position wherein said means may be inserted into or removed from a railway car coupler in its locked condition and operable to another position wherein said supporting means is suspended from said coupler, and means operatively connecting the attaching means to said permanent magnets for arranging said magnets in additive magnetic relation when said means is in its said other position and in a neutralizing magnetic relation when said means is in its said one position.

9. In combination, a nonmagnetizable housing, two bar type permanent magnets disposed in said housing and biased to occupy relative positions wherein the fluxes are in additive relation, and means for attaching saidhousing to v a railway car coupler in its locked condition, comprising a pair of coupler engaging elements secured Yto said housing and biased to an expanded position into engagement with the parts with a locked coupler 0i said car and comprising l a supporting member to which said impulsing means is attachable, and means for attaching said member to a coupler of said car, said means comprising two members one secured to said supporting member, a lever pivotally secured intermediate its ends to said one member and having a pin connection at one end to the other of said two members, springs disposed between said two members on either side of said pin connection', and means operatively connected with the other end of said lever for moving said two members toward each other to enable said attaching means to be inserted into said coupler and for at times permitting said springs to urge said two members apart and into engagement with the parts of said coupler,

6. In combination witha railway car coupler in its locked condition, two'magnets, a nonmagnetizable housing enclosing said magnets, asupporting member secured to said housing, attaching means secured to .said supporting member of said car coupler, operating means for operating said coupler engaging elements to a closed position wherein said elements may be inserted into a car coupler, and means operatively connecting said operating means to said magnets for operating said magnets to an operated position wherein the fluxes are in a neutralizing relation when said coupler engaging elements occupy their closed positions.

l0. In combination, two channel members arranged with confronting open faces, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to one of said members'and having one 'of itsends pin-connected to 'the other of said members, compression springs disposed between the closed faces of said channel members on either sidefof said pin-connection, a"

signaling device to be supported, and means connecting said signaling device to one of said channel members, said means including acam engaged by the other end of said lever and effective to rotate said lever about its pivot, whereby said members at times may be compressed to a closed position and at other times may be released from said closed position to an open position.

11. The combination with a railway car having a disengaged railway car coupler in its locked position, of magneticmeans, and means for attaching said magnetic means to said car coupler with said magnetic means disposed to be in a predetermined relation to the trackway, said attaching means comprising a pair of coupler engaging elements biased to an expanded position wherein the elements engage the shank and knuckle portions of said coupler, operating means acting on said coupler engaging elements for operating said elements to a closed position wherein said elements may be inserted into said coupler between its shank and knuckle portions, and means connecting said magnetic means to said coupler engaging elements in such a manner that when said coupler engaging elements engage said coupler portions with said connecting means projecting downwardly toward the trackway, said magnetic means are positioned in said predetermined relation so that said magnetic means will clear with a predetermined clearance a line drawn tangent to the tops of the two rails of said trackway.

12. The combination with a railway car having a disengaged railway car coupler in its locked 1 condition, of two coupler engaging elements, means for biasing said two coupler engaging elements to an expanded position wherein the elements engage the shank and knuckle portions of said coupler, operating means for operating said coupler engaging elements to a closed position wherein said elements may be inserted into said coupler between its shank and knuckle portions, a non-magnetizable housing member, a first permanent magnet, separate pole pieces for each pole of said rst magnet, means for attaching each pole piece to its associated pole of said iirst magnet and for mounting said iirst magnet in said housing member, a second permanent magnet mounted in said housing in magnetic relation to said rst magnet, means for moving one of said magnets relative to the other betweeen relative positions wherein the two magnetic fields aid and oppose each other respectively, a connecting member connecting said housing member to said coupler engaging elements in such a manner that when said coupler engaging elements engage said coupler portions with said connecting member projecting downwardly, said housing member is positioned in a predetermined relation to the trackway with said pole pieces paralleling the two track rails and said magnets and housing clearing with a predetermined clearance a line drawn tangent to the two track rails, and means operatively connected with said operating means for causing motion of said one magnet relative to the other in such a manner that said magnets are in one of said relative positions when said coupler engaging elements are in their expanded position and said magnets are in the other relative position when said coupler engaging elements are in their closed positions.

13. In combination, two channel members arranged with confronting open faces, knuckle engaging elements fastened to the outside closed face of one of said channel members and shank sion springs disposed between the closed faces of said channel members on either side of said pinconnection, a connecting member attached to said one member, a cam mounted on said connecting member for cooperation with the other end of said lever and having a shape effective vto rotate said lever about said pivot between either of two extreme positions in one of which said channel members are compressed to a closed position wherein the channel members may be inserted into a disengaged railway car coupler in its locked condition and in the other extreme position of which said channel members are expanded by said compression springs to cause said knuckle engaging and shank engaging elements to be in a position for engaging the knuckle and shank portions respectively of the car coupler, a non-magnetizable housing, a first permanent magnet, separate pole pieces for each pole of said rst magnet, means for attaching each pole piece to its associated pole of said rst magnet and for mounting said rst magnet in said housing member, a second permanent magnet mounted in said housing in magnetic relation to said first magnet, means for moving one of said magnets relative to the other between relative positions wherein the two magnetic fields aid and oppose each other respectively, said non-magnetizable housing member attached to said connecting member with said connecting member having a length such that when said knuckle and shank engaging members engage said knuckle and shank respectively of a car coupler with said connecting member extending downwardly from said coupler toward the trackway, said housing member is positioned in a predetermined relation to the trackway with said pole pieces paralleling the two tracks of the trackway and said magnets and housing clearing with a predetermined clearance a line drawn tangent to the two track rails, and means operatively connecting said magnet moving means with said cam for causing movement of said one magnet relative to the other in such a manner that when said channel members are compressed to a closed position said two magnetic elds oppose and when said two channel members are expanded to a position wherein said knuckle and shank engaging elements are in positions to engage with the knuckle and shank of a car coupler said two magnetic elds are additive.

KENNETH J. J. MCGOWAN. 

